Newburgh Free Academy P-TECH Host Event for June 2019 Volunteer Trip to Uganda

On December 7, at 2 Alice's on Broadway in Newburgh, thanks to the generous sponsorship of Mid-Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union, students from Global to Local hosted a fundraiser with prizes and live music. Global to Local is an award-winning global service-learning program at Newburgh Free Academy P-TECH (formerly Excelsior Academy) in the Newburgh Enlarged City School District.  Now in its third year, the program provides students with an opportunity to learn about an authentic community need in a foreign country, then use the knowledge, skills and dispositions gained during travel to act as Project Managers for a community impact project in our city of Newburgh.   The program is funded exclusively through donations and student fundraising.

Local businesses, community leaders, and organizations have been working diligently to create opportunities for youth in the city of Newburgh. Global to Local was designed to invite students to think deeply about the changes their city is experiencing, and learn how to insert their voices into the conversations about the future of their community.  

In the summer of 2019, through a partnership with Red Earth Education, twelve Newburgh students will travel to Uganda, where underfunded schools struggle to provide quality education. Red Earth’s mission is to “to empower a network of local teachers though training, support and recognition, who are committed to working with local government to improve education standards and learning outcomes for all children.”  BecauseGlobal to Local also focuses on spending time with grassroots change-makers who have identified a need in their own communities and worked towards solutions to address those needs, students will learn from the organizers who run Red Earth Education and learn from them about community problem solving.

After their trip to Uganda, the students will act as project managers for a community impact project in the city of Newburgh. In the past, students’ projects have involved creating and facilitating a Newburgh Youth Leadership Summit and they currently have a 1 in 3 chance to win $100,000 to fund the 2018 project to create a shared public learning space in Newburgh that traces and celebrates the city’s rich history. 

To follow their journey, become a sponsor, let students know about local calls for volunteers or to partner with Global to Local please visit them at: www.globaltolocal.net

ATTENTION: Are your scholars or colleagues doing something great? Please contact the district Communications Team at communications@necsd.net. We’d love to visit your class or event and/or post your pictures and recap to highlight the amazing accomplishments throughout our district!